"Knowing I would face rejection, shame, and the deep disappointment of my patriarch father and head-covering-wearing mother, I finally told them I was leaving their church (and that I had a boyfriend "from the world") in 2011 - years after I had secretly, privately, fearfully begun my journey out. It's taken years to win them over to me - and years for them to fall in love with that boyfriend (now husband). They fought me every step of the way, but I refused to treat them the way they treated me. I kept showing up. I hugged them and told them I loved them every single time. I turned fear into courage into love."